Butte County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Butte County is located in California with a total population of 209,470. It is the 28th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Butte County is 36.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Butte County is $68,574. This is 29% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.3%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $408,700. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 58.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Butte County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (66.6% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (19.5%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

31.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.